Dorados de Sinaloa Win Apertura 2016 Ascenso MX

Dorados de Sinaloa beat Atlante 1-0 in Sunday’s second leg to win the Apertura 2016 Ascenso MX title with a 4-2 aggregate victory. The victory gives Dorados not just a league title, but a ticket to next year’s promotion playoff for a spot in Liga MX – and if Dorados win the Clausura 2017 title as well, they would gain automatic promotion to the first division.

Dorados were ahead on aggregate after a 2-3 away victory earlier this week. Atlante needed to score to get themselves back into the tie, and the visitors held possession as they looked for that crucial goal.

The Potros’ best chance game in the 22nd minute, when Carlos Garcés tried a diving header, but he couldn’t put it on target from within the six-yard box.

In the second half, Sinaloa began to throw numbers forward as they looked for the goal that would put the game to bed. They nearly found it in the 50th minute, with a dangerous free kick from Alan Mendoza, but the keeper was there to make the save.

Then, in the 67th minute, Elio Castro met a corner kick and the ball took a deflection off defender Maneul Marroquín to make its way into the back of the net. 1-0 (4-2) and a long way back for Atlante.

Joe Benny Corona nearly found a second for the hosts in the 83rd minute, but Gerardo Ruíz was there to make the save once again.

With the 1-0 (4-2 aggregate) victory, Dorados de Sinaloa are the champions of the Apertura 2016 Ascenso MX.